COVID-delayed oyakata danpatsu-shiki

[Seiyashi 4,072]

COVID-19 held up a lot of danpatsu-shiki events, making their economic viability doubtful (since they're essentially benefit events, not to mention a lot of fans of popular rikishi would like to send them off). But on the other hand, some oyakata might like to just have it done and over with, especially if they might not have star power to pack the halls to make it a profitable event.

The following 13 (EDIT: 15 - added Homarefuji and Chiyootori) oyakata had their danpatsu-shiki delayed by COVID-19. With Tochiozan's danpatsu-shiki announced, and Kotoyuki's having already taken place, I thought it would be a good idea to collate them in one thread in view of the exceptional circumstances:

• OVER: Aminishiki/Ajigawa: intai Nagoya 2019, danpatsu-shiki 4 October 2020 30 May 2021 29 May 2022
• OVER: Homarefuji/Tateyama: intai Aki 2019, danpatsu-shiki 14 February 2022 
• OVER: Yoshikaze/Nakamura: intai Aki 2019, danpatsu-shiki 5 February 2022
• OVER: Gōeidō/Takekuma: intai Hatsu 2020, danpatsu-shiki 29 January 2022
• OVER: Tochiozan/Kiyomigata: intai Nagoya 2020, danpatsu-shiki 30 January 2022
• OVER: Toyonoshima/Izutsu: intai Nagoya 2020, danpatsu-shiki 28 May 2022
• Sōkokurai/Arashio: intai Nagoya 2020, danpatsu-shiki 2 October 2022
• Kotoshōgiku/Hidenoyama: intai Kyushu 2020, danpatsu-shiki 1 October 2022
• Kakuryū/Kakuryū: intai Haru 2021, danpatsu-shiki 3 June 2023
• OVER: Kotoyūki/Kimigahama: intai Natsu 2021, danpatsu-shiki 2 October 2021
• Ikioi/Kasugayama: intai Nagoya 2021, planned 4 June 2023?
• Toyohibiki/Yamashina: intai Nagoya 2021, danpatsu-shiki 29 January 2023
• Asahishō/Kiriyama: intai Nagoya 2021
• Hakuhō/Magaki: intai Aki 2021, planned 1 October 2023?
• Chiyootori/Sanoyama: intai Kyushu 2021, planned 30 September 2023?

It's of course a bit of a stretch whether the Nagoya retirees and Hakuho's danpatsu-shiki can be considered to be "delayed" by COVID-19 rather than the queue at the barbershop, especially now that Kotoyuki's danpatsu-shiki shows that they needn't have their danpatsu-shiki in the same order as when they retired. Nonetheless, since there's still a backlog (and potentially a flurry of danpatsu shiki in relatively closer proximity), it's probably still useful to keep track of them here.

Editorial note: this thread started life as the Tochiozan danpatsu-shiki thread, but was edited and rearranged to accommodate announcements of other delayed events. And since the events have started happening, it has been renamed from "Outstanding oyakata danpatsu-shiki" to "COVID-delayed oyakata danpatsu-shiki".

Update (16 June): Given how the list of possible danpatsu dates was basically corroborated by 3 or four hits in a row, it's probably safe to take it as good. Head list updated with Ikioi's, Hakuhō's, and Chiyootori's planned danpatsu dates.

Edited August 20, 2022 by Seiyashi

[Seiyashi 4,072]

Tochiozan's danpatsu-shiki has been announced for 30 January 2022, and will take place at the Kokugikan:

Edited October 3, 2021 by Seiyashi

[Seiyashi 4,072]

It seems that Kotoyuki has had his danpatsu-shiki already, according to a retweet by Herouth. It was at what looked like a relatively empty Kokugikan. The list in the OP has been updated accordingly.

Edited October 3, 2021 by Seiyashi

[yohcun 401]

Looks like he's shed plenty of weight already. This tweet has a more close-up photo.

 

[Yamanashi 3,788]

Some pictures from Narutobeya Twitter.

 

[Akinomaki 40,169]

With (overly) proper haircut and properly the necktie fixed by the wife o

Edited October 2, 2021 by Akinomaki

[Akinomaki 40,169]

Kiyomigata is embarrassed that he wears a suit with still a chonmage - interviewed by his local Kochi shimbun on the 27th for the first time since intai, also about the danpatsushiki in January o (register to read)

Edited October 2, 2021 by Akinomaki

[Yamanashi 3,788]

36 minutes ago, Akinomaki said:

Kiyomigata is embarrassed that he wears a suit with still a chonmage - interviewed by his local Kochi shimbun on the 27th for the first time since intai, also about the danpatsushiki in January o (register to read)

What is the history of his kabu?  The db suggests there hasn't been a heya associated with it since 1920.  Tochiozan is the first kabu holder on the list to have reached Sanyaku in his career.  Tochioyama coached at Kasugano heya after his intai -- is that the connection to Tochiozan?

[code_number3 698]

1 hour ago, Akinomaki said:

With (overly) proper haircut and properly the necktie fixed by the wife o

He looks like a high school student

[Amamaniac 2,078]

8 hours ago, Seiyashi said:

It seems that Kotoyuki has had his danpatsu-shiki already, according to a retweet by Herouth. It was at what looked like a relatively empty Kokugikan. The list in the OP has been updated accordingly.

 

I get how people's first impression is that of an empty Kokugikan, the newspapers suggesting that there were only about 250 people (not necessarily fans) in attendance.  Not sure if it is significant that Hakuho was not there (he notably had no fondness for Kotoyuki's owl hoots).  He may be retired, but he'll still be on the banzuke in November.  

It's definitely sad that wrestlers who've dedicated a good chunk of their lives to the sport are being deprived of a glorious send off ... thanks to Covid.

Also interesting is the gyoji wearing a face mask for this, yet not for official tournaments.  I get how there may have been "lay people" there, but ... really?

P.S., I checked the record between retired Kotoyuki and in-attendance Terunofuji, and they were 3-3!  I guess this was a case of "he who snips last, snips best." 

[Amamaniac 2,078]

On 29/09/2021 at 08:41, Seiyashi said:

Aminishiki/Ajigawa: intai Nagoya 2019, danpatsu-shiki 4 October 2021

Turns out Aminishiki's danpatsu-shiki has actually been postponed (yet again?) until May 29, 2022.  

https://aminishiki.jp

[Akinomaki 40,169]

The local paper had a detailed report on Kotoyuki's danpatsushiki http://www.shikoku-np.co.jp/sports/local/article.aspx?id=20211003000095

Sadogatake oyakata with the last cut

The family

Edited October 3, 2021 by Akinomaki

[Akinomaki 40,169]

23 hours ago, Akinomaki said:

The local paper had a detailed report on Kotoyuki's danpatsushiki http://www.shikoku-np.co.jp/sports/local/article.aspx?id=20211003000095

The papers (also Nikkan) lists from among the 250 that had a cut, apart from Terunofuji, same ichimon  Shibatayama and a group of oyakata, Takayasu and Shohozan, local koenkai members and others, from the entertainment world, comedians Hanawa, Omura Kon, and Kusano Hitoshi, the host from TBS Sekai Fushigi Hakken.

Edited October 4, 2021 by Akinomaki

[code_number3 698]

Yoshikaze’s danpatsu shiki will be held on February 5th, 2022

 

Edited October 20, 2021 by code_number3

[Itachiyama 115]

Toyohibiki is planning his Intai Sumo for weekend after Hatsu Basho 2023 (28th/29th)

[Seiyashi 4,072]

1 hour ago, Itachiyama said:

Toyohibiki is planning his Intai Sumo for weekend after Hatsu Basho 2023 (28th/29th)

Any official announcement or link?

[Itachiyama 115]

15 hours ago, Seiyashi said:

Any official announcement or link?

no, this is just what he told me personally!

[Itachiyama 115]

According to sources out of Sakaigawa-beya Goeido's Danpatsu shall take place after Hatsu 22!?

[Tigerboy1966 1,417]

On 29/09/2021 at 07:41, Seiyashi said:

Aminishiki/Ajigawa: intai Nagoya 2019, danpatsu-shiki 4 October 2021 29 May 2022

So if that goes ahead it will be a gap of 2 years, 10 months. Is this a record?

[Yamanashi 3,788]

9 hours ago, Tigerboy1966 said:

So if that goes ahead it will be a gap of 2 years, 10 months. Is this a record?

Imagine retiring from active sumo, and still having to deal with bintsuke for almost three years.

[Asashosakari 19,039]

This subject is attracting attention in Japan now, too: While looking for info about Goeido's alleged stable-making plans I instead ran into a recent article at an outfit named Victory Sports News (via Yahoo Japan's syndicated news feed). Nothing really new for us here, but a nice summary of the situation faced by the many oyakata in the waiting line for their respective danpatsu-shiki.

In any case, the article got me to realize that one already-known date is missing from this summary thread:

On 27/11/2020 at 00:05, Yubinhaad said:

Izutsu-oyakata announced that May 28th 2022 is the date for his intaizumo at the Kokugikan. Quite poignantly, he noted that his last basho as an active rikishi was a lonely experience with no audience at all, and hopes that in a year and a half his many fans will be able to attend and see the last oichomage of Toyonoshima.

 

And a clerical note:

On 29/09/2021 at 08:41, Seiyashi said:

• Aminishiki/Ajigawa: intai Nagoya 2019, danpatsu-shiki 4 October 2021 29 May 2022

This should be 4 October 2020 30 May 2021 29 May 2022. 

[Itachiyama 115]

Takekuma/Goeido will have his Danpatsu-shiki on January 29th 2022

[Seiyashi 4,072]

Thanks for the updates, everyone. Head post has been updated. Interesting to note that Goeido's and Tochiozan's danpatsushiki are back to back; they were rivals while schooling, so in some sense it's probably fitting (and I suspect has had some deliberate arrangement).

[rhyen 1,827]

10 hours ago, Seiyashi said:

Thanks for the updates, everyone. Head post has been updated. Interesting to note that Goeido's and Tochiozan's danpatsushiki are back to back; they were rivals while schooling, so in some sense it's probably fitting (and I suspect has had some deliberate arrangement).

Maybe they wanted one last showdown to see who gets more attendees?

[code_number3 698]

On 29/10/2021 at 13:07, Itachiyama said:

Takekuma/Goeido will have his Danpatsu-shiki on January 29th 2022

Ticket sales starts on December 4th 2021